Preliminary investigations into the Ludhiana shooting case have shown that it was SAD leader Gurjit Singh who had shot at brothers Harinder Singh and Jatinder Singh from close range.

Preliminary investigations into the Ludhiana shooting case have shown that it was SAD leader Gurjit Singh who had shot at brothers Harinder Singh and Jatinder Singh from close range.

Constable Yadwinder Singh and Punjab Home Guard jawans Baldev Singh and Ajit Singh narrated this tale to the police team interrogating them. The police have been questioning the accused separately to verify their statements.

They said Gurjit had tipped off the police about the brothers. On Saturday, when they struck at the house at Jamalpur, the main door was locked from inside. Baldev entered the house after jumping from the roof of the neighbouring house. As he barged into the house, the brothers and their two accomplices overpowered him and snatched his rifle. Baldev opened the door and the three others, including Gurjit, entered the house.

They said the police team and Gurjit indulged in a scuffle with the brothers and their accomplices and snatched the rifle back. Suddenly, Gurjit took out his pistol and fired at the two from close range.The police team also arrested the two accomplices of the brothers as they tried to escape.

According to police investigation, the brothers had rented the house recently. The police were looking for them as they were wanted in case of attempt to murder and molestation.

Sources said the police had detained dismissed inspector Manjinder Singh, SHO, Machhiwara police station, on Monday evening and were interrogating him. The police have not formally arrested him.

Gurjit once Cong loyalist

Gurjit was earlier a Congress loyalist. The police have found that Harmanpinder Singh, whom Gurjit used to call his nephew, is not his relative.

Gurjit, a landlord who owns a lavish farmhouse at Balachaur, entered politics in 2008. He had contested the block samiti elections on a Congress ticket in 2008. Later, Gurjit joined the SAD. His wife, Rajwinder Kaur, had contested the sarpanch election on a SAD ticket.

Cops were expecting reward

In this case, the cops were expecting a reward for killing the brothers who were wanted in a case of attempt to murder. After the incident, the cops at Machhiwara police station informed their superior that they had apprehended the two accused wanted in the case.

Sources said that before leaving the police station, the cops did not make an entry in the record about the raid. After the incident, SHO Manjinder Singh made an entry that he had been leading the police party for arresting the accused.

Contrary to their expectations, the case took an unexpected turn and the police booked them for killing the brothers.

Gurjit was allegedly close to constable Yadwinder Singh. Sources said Gurjit had also helped Yadwinder in buying a car.

Crime file

Harinder and Jatinder took to crime in 2010. The Samrala police had booked the brothers and their parents for trespassing and assault. The case is pending in the court.

In October 2013, the Samrala police had booked the two for attempt to murder. Later, the two parties reached a compromise.

On July 21, the Samrala police booked Harinder, Jatinder and their accomplice Harjot Singh for molesting a girl. The accused were not arrested in the case.

On August 23, the Machhiwara police booked them for attempt to murder.